Durham OnAir

About Durham OnAir

Local Time: Loading...

Current weather: Loading weather...

Frequencies & locations:

• DAB+ – Available on DAB+ across parts of County Durham and the wider North East, including Newton Aycliffe, Shildon, South Durham, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Crook, Brandon, Stanley, Gateshead, Newcastle, Ponteland, South Shields and Whitley Bay.
• Online – Listen online via the Durham OnAir website, app, smart speakers and supported connected devices.

Durham OnAir is one of those stations that actually understands what local radio is meant to do. It is not trying to be a national brand with a local logo slapped on top. Since launching in November 2020, the station has focused on County Durham, Durham City, Darlington and nearby parts of the North East, filling its schedule with local news, local discussion and a broad mainstream music mix that sounds built for the area rather than imported from somewhere else.

A big part of the station’s value is its local relevance. Durham OnAir puts real effort into county news, community stories, features and practical day-to-day information, which makes it more useful than a thin music service pretending to be local. The station also backs that up with a proper presenter line-up, podcasts and regular regional coverage, so it feels like an active outlet with roots in County Durham rather than a low-effort stream left running in the background.

It also has a wider footprint than the name alone suggests. Durham OnAir is available online and on DAB+ across multiple North East areas, including South Durham, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Newcastle, Gateshead and South Shields. That wider distribution gives the station reach, but the tone remains county-first. For listeners who want local radio with recognisable voices, county news and a proper North East identity, Durham OnAir has more substance than a lot of weak small-scale stations.

Notable shows & presenters are:

• Sam Lupton — Durham Breakfast: Sam Lupton fronts Durham Breakfast, one of the station’s main weekday shows, mixing local news, conversation and music to start the day across County Durham.
• Matthew Donnachie — Friday Breakfast: Matthew Donnachie hosts Friday Breakfast, giving the end of the working week its own presenter-led morning show on Durham OnAir.
• Damian Robinson — Durham Drive: Damian Robinson presents Durham Drive, the station’s key weekday drive-time programme with local updates, chat and familiar music for the journey home.
• Sue Sweeney — evening shows: Sue Sweeney is one of the best-known names on Durham OnAir’s public line-up, bringing an established North East broadcasting voice to the station’s evening output.
• Sam Lupton & Emma Hignett — The Durham Podcast: Away from the main schedule, Sam Lupton and Emma Hignett host The Durham Podcast, a station-branded show focused on interviews, culture and local stories from across County Durham.

Contact Information

Official website:
https://www.durhamonair.com/

Studio email:
studio@durhamonair.com

Studio / WhatsApp:
0191 308 2602

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/durhamonair/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/durhamonair/

X / Twitter: https://x.com/durhamonair

Durham OnAir FAQ

What is Durham OnAir?
Durham OnAir is a local radio station serving County Durham, Durham City, Darlington and the wider North East of England with local news, presenter-led shows, chat, podcasts and mainstream music.

How can I listen to Durham OnAir live?
You can listen live to Durham OnAir online through its website and app, on smart speakers and on DAB+ across parts of County Durham and the wider North East.

Where is Durham OnAir available on DAB+?
Durham OnAir says it broadcasts on DAB+ across areas including Newton Aycliffe, Shildon, South Durham, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Crook, Brandon, Stanley, Gateshead, Newcastle, Ponteland, South Shields and Whitley Bay.

Who presents shows on Durham OnAir?
Publicly listed presenters and hosts on Durham OnAir include Sam Lupton, Matthew Donnachie, Damian Robinson, Sue Sweeney, Alex Sweeney, Chris Coxon and others across the station schedule and podcasts.

How do I contact Durham OnAir?
You can contact Durham OnAir by emailing studio@durhamonair.com, calling or sending a WhatsApp message to 0191 308 2602, or by using its official website and social media channels.